Deputy involved in altercation with Ujiri may sue

The sheriff's deputy who was involved in an altercation with Masai Ujiri after the Toronto Raptors' title-clinching win has hired a high-profile civil rights attorney and may file a lawsuit against the Raptors president of basketball operations, the club, and the NBA, according to KPIX 5's Katie Nielsen.

"No options are being ruled out as to how to rectify the situation," said the attorney, David Mastagni.

Mastagni said the deputy hasn't returned to work due to injuries suffered from the incident.

"It's an unprovoked significant hit to the jaw of the law enforcement officer," Mastagni said. "... A serious concussion, a templar mandibular joint injury - which is a serious jaw injury."

The deputy told investigators that he attempted to stop Ujiri from entering the court for the postgame celebration because he didn't recognize the executive and said Ujiri wasn't wearing proper credentials.

After reportedly reviewing footage of the altercation from the deputy's body camera and security cameras at Oracle Arena, Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern says he fully supports the deputy, according to Nielsen. The footage from those cameras has not been released because it's part of the investigation, Nielsen reports.

Ahern is recommending that the case move forward to the district attorney's office for criminal charges of misdemeanor battery of a police officer against Ujiri.

The Raptors say they are "fully cooperating with authorities" and "looking forward to resolving the situation."